He answered, “The Prophet has given an indication: he has laid down the touchstone (criterion) for (distinguishing) the base coin and the good.

گفته است الکذب ریب فی القلوب ** گفت الصدق طمانین طروب‏

He has said, ‘Falsehood is (the cause of) disquiet in (men's) hearts’; he has said, ‘Truth is (the cause of) a joyous tranquillity.’

دل نیارامد ز گفتار دروغ ** آب و روغن هیچ نفروزد فروغ‏2735

The (troubled) heart is not comforted by lying words: water and oil kindle no light.

در حدیث راست آرام دل است ** راستیها دانه‏ی دام دل است‏

(Only) in truthful speech is there comfort for the heart: truths are the bait that entraps the heart.

دل مگر رنجور باشد بد دهان ** که نداند چاشنی این و آن‏

Sick, surely, and ill-savoured is the heart that knows not (cannot distinguish) the taste of this and that.

چون شود از رنج و علت دل سلیم ** طعم کذب و راست را باشد علیم‏

When the heart becomes whole (is healed) of pain and disease, it will recognize the flavour of falsehood and truth.

حرص آدم چون سوی گندم فزود ** از دل آدم سلیمی را ربود

When Adam's greed for the wheat waxed great, it robbed Adam's heart of health.

پس دروغ و عشوه‏ات را گوش کرد ** غره گشت و زهر قاتل نوش کرد2740

Then he gave ear to your lies and enticements: he was befooled and drank the killing poison.

کژدم از گندم ندانست آن نفس ** می‏پرد تمییز از مست هوس‏

At that moment he knew not scorpion (kazhdum) from wheat (gandum): discernment flies from one that is drunken with vain desire.

خلق مست آرزویند و هوا ** ز آن پذیرایند دستان ترا

The people are drunken with cupidity and desire: hence they are accepting your cheatery.

هر که خود را از هوا خود باز کرد ** چشم خود را آشنای راز کرد

Whoever has rid his nature of vain desire has (thereby) made his (spiritual) eye familiar with the secret.

شکایت قاضی از آفت قضا و جواب گفتن نایب او را

How a cadi complained of the calamity of (holding) the office of cadi, and how his deputy answered him.

قاضیی بنشاندند او می‏گریست ** گفت نایب قاضیا گریه ز چیست‏

They installed a cadi, (and meanwhile) he wept. The deputy said, ‘O cadi, what are you weeping for?

این نه وقت گریه و فریاد تست ** وقت شادی و مبارک باد تست‏2745

This is not the time for you to weep and lament: it is the time for you to rejoice and receive felicitations.’

گفت اه چون حکم راند بی‏دلی ** در میان آن دو عالم جاهلی‏

‘Ah,’ said he, ‘how shall a man without insight pronounce judgement—an ignorant man (decide) between two who know?

آن دو خصم از واقعه‏ی خود واقفند ** قاضی مسکین چه داند ز آن دو بند

Those two adversaries are acquainted with their own case: what should the poor cadi know of those two tangles?

جاهل است و غافل است از حالشان ** چون رود در خونشان و مالشان‏

He is ignorant and unaware of their (real) state: how should he proceed (to give judgment) concerning their lives and property?’

گفت خصمان عالمند و علتی ** جاهلی تو لیک شمع ملتی‏

He (the deputy) said, ‘The litigants know (the truth of their case) and (nevertheless) are unsound (prejudiced); you are ignorant (of the facts), but you are the luminary of the whole body (of Moslems),

ز انکه تو علت نداری در میان ** آن فراغت هست نور دیده‏گان‏2750

Because you have no prejudice to interfere (with your discernment), and that freedom (from prejudice) is light to the eyes;

و آن دو عالم را غرضشان کور کرد ** علمشان را علت اندر گور کرد

While those two who know are blinded by their self-interest: prejudice has put their knowledge into the grave.